DWTS: Can Gymnast Simone Biles, 4’9″, Do It In Heels?

Once in a while an au naturel dance hits home on Dancing with the Stars, where barefoot dancers own the floor like a primetime Adam & Eve. But most ballroom dancing — and that’s what DWTS is all about, after all — is done in glamorous costume with the female partner wearing heels. Sometimes quite high ones. Dynamic Olympic gymnast and gold medal collector Simone Biles has shown that in bare feet, she is capable of more astonishingly athletic feats than anyone. But can she do it in heels?

Simone, who is listed at just 4’9″, is hardly the smallest contestant to compete on DWTS. Last year Terra Jole of the Little Women reality franchise made a terrific run. But Simone will still want heels not just for the glamour but to minimize the height disparity between her and her partner, Sasha Farber. Practice shows Simone wearing sneakers sometimes (see below). But the glam poster ads for the show leave little doubt that Simone will be spike-heeling her way around the dance floor for most of the competition. A note to keep in mind: Simone Biles is better than anyone in DWTS Season 24 at rising to a challenge on the biggest stage. Also note: Simone’s gymnastics teammate Laurie Hernandez put on shoes with rather magnificent results.